Ditching-machine



(ModeL) 7 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. OMWAKE.

Ditching Machine.

No. 241,820. Patented May 24,1881.

N. PETERS. Plwlo-Uthognpbor. Wnhingwn. D. C.

(Model.)- '7 Sheets -Sheet, 2.

J. H. OMWAKE'.

Ditching Machine.

N 24 ,32 Patented May 24, I881.

74 2772 eases: [72 21072102 A Zc u 4 Q N. PETERS. HmwL hwg pM Wahinglm 0.6.

(ModeL) 7 SheetsSheet 3.

J. H. OMWAKE.

Ditching Machine. No 241 2 Patented May 24,1881,

WLMMML i (ModeL) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. H. OMWAKE. Ditching Machine.

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No. 241,820. Patented May 24,1881.

N. PETERS. PhowLilhagrzphur. Walhingtun. D. 11

(ModeL) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. H. OMWAKE. Ditching Machine.

No. 241,820. Patented May 24,1881.

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(ModeL) 7 SheetsSheet 6.

J. H. OMWAKE. Ditching Machine.

No..241,820. Patented Ma-y.24,- I881.

N. PETERS. Hwhrljflwgmph'r. Wahinglon. D, C.

(ModeL) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 J. H. OMWAKE.

Ditching Machine.

No. 241,820.- Patented May 24,1881.

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Wm asses: [72 vent: 6%% i Z 53 N. #Erzns. Phnmlilhugnphcr. Washington. 0.1;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB H. OMWAKE, OF TIFFIN, OHIO.

DlTCHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,820, dated May 24, 1881.

Application filed September 20, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it knonn that I, JACOB H. OMWAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Digging-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates toimprovements in digging-machines, whereby, first, ditches can be dug for drainage or irrigation of land, or for the reception of drain-pipes or aqueducts; second, such ditches can be made of any width and depth; third, straight or curved ditches can be made; fourth, old ditches can be widened to any extent desired fifth, ditches of any desired fall or inclination can be dug; sixth, the machine is rendered selt feeding, both in its forward and backward movements; and, seventh, the machine can be reversed for a return movement without being either removed from the ditch or turned around, as will be hereinafter described. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of the machine as it appears when making a ditch. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, with some of the parts broken away, showing the ditch in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same in the line as w of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section ofthesamethrough the center of the main shaft. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top view of the scoop mechanism, the scoop being shown in its lowest position. Fig. 6 is a vertical section in the center line of the shaft of the scoop. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the feed-wheel in the line 1 3 of Fig. 4; Fig.8, a similar section in the line 2 z of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section, through the rock-shaft and slotted rocker-arm, ol the feed-motion. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the upper portion of the feed-motion in its reversed position. Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through the center of the guide or drag wheel, showing the means whereby it is swung horizontally out of and into its normal position. Fig. 12 is a diagram of the machine as it appears while making a straight ditch. Fig. 13 is a diagram of the machine as it appears making a curved ditch. Fig. 14 is a diagram of the machine as it appears while widening a ditch. Fig. 15 is (Model.)

a top View of the machine as it appears when performing the operation of widening a ditch. Fig. 16 is an elevation of the same, showing one of the lateral guide wheels and arms broken away in order to more fully expose the main parts of the machine. Fig. 17 is a horizontal section in the line as a," of Fig. 11. Fig. 18 is a horizontal section of thereversing-clutch mechanism.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents a horizontal frame; B, a supporting guidewheel (J, a supporting feedwheel; D, a revolving scoop mechanism; E E, lateral steadying mechanisms, and F the main driving-wheel.

The middle portion of the main frame A is provided with a suitable transverse frame, G, to which the vertical shaftf of the horizontal driving-wheel F is hung. The top of the shaft f is provided with a cross-heathf, to which a revolving horse-power draft-beannf is attached, and the lower end of the shaft is slotted, as at f",- Fig. 4, for the purpose of receiving a reamer or cutter, f, Fig. 15.

The frameGis provided with lugs g, to which the side arms, Gr, ofthe lateral steadying mechanism E are pivoted, as at g. These arms G extend to the ground on each side of the machine, as shown, and are provided with guide rollers or wheels 9 having sharp rims g, which enter the soil and prevent the wheels from slipping sidewise. The arms G are laterally steadied by means of braces 9 which are suitably attached at g to the arms and at g to the frame A. Said braces are horizontally flattened where they attach to the frame, in orderto yield vertically to the motions of the wheels P. The lateral steadying mechanism E is made horizontally adjustable by means of exchangeholes g in the braces g", which, when used alternately as means of fastening the braces g to the frame A, cause the wheels g to stand tangential to certain curves on which the desired ditches may be cut, and thus the lateral steadying mechanisms E E serve also as lateral guides to the machine in its different adjusted positions.

The wheel F drives a pinion, h, upon a horizontal shaft, H, which is suitably hung to the frames A and G in atransverse position, Figs. 4 and 15, and serves as a pivot to a connectingarm, I, of the scooping mechanism, through the forked end I of which it passes loosely. Between said forked end 1' two beveled wheels, It If, are loosely titted upon the shaft ll, and between the said wheels It It a coupling-clutch, h is loosely titted upon the shaft ll, and caused to revolve with the same, by means ofa straight key, It, fastened to the shaft. The clutch It has a central annular groove, 11", and two lugs, It, one at each end. Coincident with said lugs notches h are provided in the opposing faces of the wheels h 14*, so that when the clutch is moved to its extreme right or left position the corresponding lug It will engage with the opposing notch h and thus lock the wheel I! or h as the case may be, to the shaft ll, whereby said wheel is caused to revolve with the same speed and in the same direction as the pinion h. Thelength of the clutch Ir is such that the wheels h h are entirely out of its range when it occupies a central position upon the shaft H. The clutch is moved and held in position by means of a shipping-lever, It", the forked end h of which takes hold in the groove 11" of the clutch. A pin, It", on the frame A set ves as a check to the vertically-yielding handle portion of the lever II", which latter is provided with a central hole, It". When the lever 11" is passed over the pin II'", so that the pin enters the hole It, the clutch Ir stands in its normal position, and when the lever I! is at the right or left of the pin h" the clutch is at its extreme left or right position.

The arm I is provided with suitable bearings,i t", to which is hung a shaft,.l, with a beveled wheel at each end. The upper one of these beveled wheels, j, gears into the wheels h k and is alternately revolved by them, the revolutions being right when obtained from one of the two wheels I1 I1 and left when obtained from the other. The lower end, i of the arm 1 is supported by a horizontal transverse shaft, K, of the scooping mechanism, which shaft passesloosely through the said end 6 and at this point the shaft J has a bevelgear,j, which gears into a bevel-wheel, Ir, upon the shaft K. Theshaft. K is hung between two parallel curved arms, 7:, which are fastened by bolts to the inner sides of the frame A, and it may, by means of slots P, be set higher or lower in the frame, and thus adjust the scooping mechanism of the machine as occasion requires for cutting at different depths.

The wheel k is provided with an arm, I, to which a partly-closed or box-shaped scoop, L, is attached. The arm I is securely pivoted to the wheel It at I, and has a slot, 1", concentric to said pivot, through which slot a bolt, 7:, passes into the wheel k, and thus fastens the arm I to the same, and permits angular adjustment of the same thereto. By these means the scoop is made reversible, so that either of its cutting-edges I can be turned out in advance of the other previous to setting in operation. The portion I of the scoop next the shaft K is movable on hinges I and it assumes an inclined position when the scoop is at its greatest elevation, as seen in Fig. 6, and it is kept in this position by the arm at of a rockshal't, M. The rock-shaft M is suitably hung to standard-bcarings m on the arm I, and its arm m is held at a right angle toward the arm I, or parallel with the shaft K, by means of an arm, m and a spring, in, which latter is fastened to the arms I and m, and by its tension in the direction of the shaft K keeps the arm min the above-described position. The shaft M is provided with another arm, m, which carries a small wheel, m and stands out in the same direction as the other two arms.

Above the shaft K, and in range of the wheel of, a guide, consisting of a curved piece of sheet metal, N, is fastened to one ofthe inner sides of the frame A. The lower portion, a, of this guide N is of conical shape, and serves to gradually guide the wheel at to the main guide N. The main guide N serves to push the wheel m out of its normal position, so that the arm m is turned back toward the hinge l and caused to support the higher portions of the side or bottom I, and thereupon this bottom drops down from its normal position and swings away from the scoop, discharging the earth deposited upon it.

The end portions, I, of the scoop consist of trap-doors hinged at l to the ends of the bottom I, and opening inward bytheir own weight during the revolution of the scoop. They are prevented from opening outward by angular laps I", which bear upon the bottom I" when the doors are acting to close the scoop.

A chute, N, is suitably fastened to the frame A, for the purpose of receiving the earth discharged from the bottom I and conducting it outside of the ditch.

The guide N and chute N, instead of being fastened to the frame of the machine, could be fastened to the arm I." below them, and thus would be secured the advantage of having the said parts adjusted vertically simultaneously with a similar adjustment of the wheel It.

In rear of the scoop mechanism the supporting feed-wheel U is located. This wheel has a ratchet-surface, e, and moves on a horizontal shaft, 0, of a suitable bracket, 0, which is by means of a vertical central pivot, 0, and a lock-pin, attached to an arm, 0, below the frame A. The arm 0 extends forward, and is attached to the frame A, near the front end thereof, by means of a pivot, 0 The arm 0 is prevented from swinging outot' its position by means of buttons 0 on the frame A. By means of the arm 0, pivot 0, and lock-pin o the feed-wheel can be moved from the rear of the scoop mechanism to the front of it, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, in order to make room for the reamer f which is inserted into the slot f 3 of the shaft f, for the purpose of widening the ditch cut by the scooping mechanism, or old ditches.

The bracket 0 serves as a support to an upright rock-shaft, P, and a sleeve, P, by means IIO 19 of the arm.

of suitable bearings, 19 p. The shaft P has at its lower end and opposite the lower portion of the ratchet-surface o a slotted arm, 12 to which at p a double pawl, pg'is pivoted in the slot A U-shaped sprin g, p, fastened to the shaft in a suitable way, as shown in Fig. 9, bears against the back of the pawl 19 and tends to keep the pawl at a right angle to the arm 11 The shaft P'passes up through the sleeve P, and a suitable distance above the frame A, where it is provided with an arm,p", and sector 12 The sleeve P is, opposite the upper portion of the ratchet-surface 0, provided with a slotted arm, 19, double paw 1, 9 and spring 19 of the same construction as those on the shaft P. This sleeve extends above the frame A, up to the arm 19" of the shaft P, where it is provided with an arm, 12*. The arms 12 p and sector 1) are provided with pin-holes 12 so that the shaft P and sleeve P can be coupled by means of a pimp, as seen in Figs. 1 and 15. The slotted arms 19 of the shaft P and sleeve P are set inclined in opposite directions, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and thus they feed alternately, and cause the wheel 0 to move continuously when the shaft and sleeve are oscillating. The oscillation of the shaft and sleeveis efi'ected by a fly and crank wheel, Q, on the shaft H. The wheel Qhas a crank-pin, q, and a connecting-rod, q, which latter is pivoted at g to a horizontal lever, Q, having its fulcrum (1 on the frame A. Aconnecting-rod, q, connects the arm 19 and lever Q, by means of the pivot-pins g and (1 The arm 12 has exchangeholes 1 and the connecting-rod g has one exchange-hole, q. The former serve to adjust the leverage of the arm 12 and the feed of the machine, and the latter is used to reverse the feed, as illustrated in Fig 10. In this case the sleeve P must be reversed a double amount by means of the sector 12, as shown.

The rear supporting and guide wheel, B, is hung in a bail, R, which, by means of dovetails thereon, slides up and down in dovetail-grooves of another bail, S, fastened to a swinging platform, S, under the frame A. The horizontal portion of the bail R is penetrated by the end of an elevating screw, It, hich is secured above and below the said portion by means of nuts r r in such a manner that it may be turned freely without moving longitudinally in it. This screw 1t is nicely fitted into the upper portion of the bail S, and is provided at its upper end with a hand-wheel, 1*. When the screw R is turned the platform S will either be elevated from orlowered to ward the ground, and accordingly as it is adjusted the scoop will be lowered or elevated. One side of the outer bail, S, has an opening, 8, througlrwhich a scale, 1", on the inner bail, R, is exposed to view, so that the operator can read off in inches the increase or decrease of inclination given to the machine by the aforesaid operation of raising or lowering the bail S with the screw R. The platform S is pivoted at s to the frame A, and its forward end is provided with a toothed sector, t, into which a wheel, U, gears. The shaft u of the wheelUis suitably hungin the frameA,and is outside the same provided with a hand-wheel, a.

Operation: For digging a ditch, the machine, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is placed in po sition upon the ground. The guide-wheel B on the platform S is by means of the hand-wheel it moved into a central position with respect to the frame A. The elevatingscrew R is run up entirely. The feed-motion is adjusted for forward feeding, but is set out of operation by disconnecting the parts 11 The scooping mechanism is now adjusted so that the scoop will make a forward and upward cut by setting the cutting-edge of the scoop forward and moving the lever [L8 to the left of the pin h". A horse is attached to the end of the beam f and caused to walk around-the machine, where upon the scoop is revolved. The operator now gradually raises the rear part of the machine by means of the screw R, whereby the front part of the machine becomes lowered and the scoop is caused to dig into the ground, and every time the scoop digs away part of the ground the earth so dug away falls against the side 1 of the scoop, above the cutting-edge. The earth thus falling by its weight opens and enters the scoop. When the scoop rises above the chute it discharges its contents of earth, as abovedescribed,uponthe chnte,while thesides I prevent the earth from slipping out sidewise and falling to the ground. \Vhen the excavation in the ground has become deep enough the horse is stopped and the parts p q are connected. The machine is now started again and the scoop, which before has been digging in a downward direction, will now dig in a forward direction by means ofthe feed-wheel (J. While this is going on the operator regulates the elevation of the scoop by means of the screw R in such manner that a ditch is dug by the machine with the desired fall or inclination, and as soon as both wheels, B and O, of the machine have arrived at the bottom of the ditch he stops operating the said screw, whereupon the machine will continue digging the ditch with the same unchanged inclination. When aditch has to be made. so deep that it cannot well be dug to its full depth at one operation then one is made which is of part ofthe required depthsay one-half, more or less, its entire lengthand then the scoop mechanism and feed mechanism are reversed, and the scoop-shaft K is lowered so as to cause the scoop to dig down to the lull or required depth of the ditch, and these adjustments having been made the machine is again started, and it will, on its way backward, dig the ditch to the required depth.

\Vhen the ditch so dug, or any other ditch, is not sufliciently wide for its intended use the cutter or rcamerf is suitably attached to the shaftf by inserting it in the slotf and fastening it with a pin or set-screw. Previous to this the feed-wheel G is moved out of the way by first disconnecting the parts p q, then turning up the buttons 0 then swinging the arm 0 forward, anti now turning the forward button, 0, down and removing the lock pin 0 reversing the position of the bracket (J on the arm 0, reinscrting the loclcpin, reversing the positions of the arms p 11*, attaching an auxiliaryconnecting-rod, f, Fig. 15, to the connecting-rod q, and finally connecting the arm 1) with the auxiliary connecting-rod (f. The feedmotion being adjusted the horse is started, whereupon the cutter or reamer revolves and cuts away the sides of the ditch, while the scoop followsand scoops up the earth loosened by the cutter. ln practice cutters of different sizes will be provided to meet the requirements of the work. The ditches thus dug and widened are all straight, as seen in the diagram, Fig. 12; and when curves ate required the operator will turn the wheel 1!, and thereby swing the guide-wheel B out ofits central position, which will change thet-onrse ofthe machine, the same as the course of a ship is changed by turning its rudder.

The diagrams illustrate the adjusted position of the guide-wheel in the machine and the therefrom-resulting curvature of the ditch. Thus when trenches for irrigation have to be made along the slopes of a hill the operator must watch the depth of the side toward the valley, and by means of the wheel it direct the machine more toward or more away from the center oi'the hill,according to the observed decrease or increase of the said side of the trench.

It will be understood from the description and accompanying; draw ings that in transport ing the machine front place to place the transporting wheel and its adjustingmechanism can be so operated as to elevate the ditching-wheel and its connections to a position which will bring the said ditching-wheel out of or above the surl'ace of the ground; also, that ill digging with the machine said transporting heel and its adjusting mechanism can be operated so as to elevate or lower the said ditchingwheel, either for cutting the ditch shallower or deeper, as occasion requires.

It is evident that this machine can also be used for digging, leveling, and scraping roads.

I have shown and described a machine with one scoop, L, but. in practice 1 will apply as many such scoops as may be advisable, in order to operate the machine to better advantage.

It is also easily seen that if by reason of accident it should become desirable to discontinue the use of one cutting edge, I", and sub stitute the other, it would only be necessary to reverse the position of the scoop upon the wheel is and reverse its rotation by means of the lever It.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. The combination, in a digging-machine, of revolving scoops on a wheel or hub, suitable discharging and tripping mechanism for the scoops, a central fulcrum and feed tractionwheel, a rear supporting-wheel, and suitable mechanism for operating the scoops and trac' lion and supporting wheels, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in a ditching-machine, of a revolving scoop attached to a wheel or hub, a central fulcrum traction feed-wheel, and mechanism whereby the machine is ad jnstetl for digging on any desired inclination, substantially as described.

3. A supporting-frame, A, mounted upon a traction teed-wheel having reversible pawls and mechanism for operating said pants, substantially as set forth.

4. A ditching-machine having its rear supporting-wheel, B, applied toan auxiliary frame, S, which is adjustable in the are of a circle in a horizontal plane, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with a ditchingma chine, ot the lateral steadyin g flange-wheels g, applied to gravitating supports, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a digging-machine, a vertically revolving scoop, L, having a cuttingedge, 1 at each end, the said cutting-edges being adjustable for alternate use, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the revolving scoop, vertically-adjusting arm k, swinging arm I, and mechanism whereby the scoop may be revolved in reverse directions, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A double-edged revolving scoop, L, having the gearing which revolves it made reversible in its operation by means of the clutch mechani m h It It [L4, substantially as and for the purpose set. forth.

ll. The combination of the revolving powershal'tf, crown-wheel F, spur-wheel It, shaft; H, bevel-wheel h, shaft J, hung in a pivoted arm, I, bevelwheels jj, bevel-wheel It, and the revol ving scoop or scoops L, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of scoop L, an inclined swinging bottom, I, a rocking, supporting, and tripping shaft, M, provided with arms in m m, a tension-spring, m and the cam-guide N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The scoop L, provided with the swinging bottom I and hinged automatically opening and closing end portions, Z, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of a revolving scoop attached to a wheel or hub and a revolving reamer, applied after the ditch has been cut by the revolving scoop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. The feed-wheel 0, applied to a pivoted swinging arm, 0, of the frame, and made reversible on said arm by means of a vertical pivot, for the purpose of adjusting the machine for reaming, and for bringing the feed-wheel in proper position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The swinging reversible feed-wheel O and the rod q", in combination with the mechanism which reverses and operates the pawls of the feed-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. The lateral steadying-wheels provided with flanges, and with means for adjusting them in a horizontal plane, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. The combination of the supportin g-wheel O with the frame A, the ditching-wheel, supported in one end of the frame, and a transporting-wheel attached to the rear end of the latter, and means for adjusting the same vertically, so as to elevate or depress the ditching- I 5 wheel, either for cutting the ditch shallower or deeper, or for supporting the ditching-wheel off of or above the ground while the machine is being transported, all as hereinbefore described.

17. The combination of feed-wheelO, reversible pawls, and mechanism for operating the pawls, substantially as described.

JACOB H. OMWAKE.

Witnesses J. W. LEAHY, J. K. HOTTAL. 

